What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into totemo (very), kirei (beautiful/clean), desu (is/am/are) and ne (a particle seeking agreement).
Which one should you use?
While とても綺麗ですね is a standard way to express this, other forms exist depending on the desired tone. For example, あなたはとってもきれい is an informal version meaning "You're very pretty," and すごく美しいね means "You're really beautiful, you know?" For a very casual or slang-heavy tone, you might use めっちゃ綺麗だよ to say "You're super beautiful!"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality changes based on the ending and vocabulary used. Formal ways to offer this compliment include あなたはとても美しいです, あなたはお美しいですね, ご容姿がとても素敵です (which refers to appearance being wonderful) and お顔立ちがとても綺麗ですね (which refers to facial features being beautiful). The phrase とても綺麗だね is an informal version suitable for close friends or partners. Slang like めっちゃ綺麗だよ is used for a more casual, high-energy compliment.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Osaka region of the Kansai area, you may hear the phrase めちゃめちゃきれいやん！ to mean "You're extremely beautiful!"
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 綺麗 is a na-adjective, which means it requires desu or da to function as a predicate in a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
totemo kirei desu ne
Did you know?
- The casual compliment めっちゃ (meccha) comes from the Kansai dialect and originally meant 'to be destroyed' or 'crushed' before it became a word for 'very'.
- While English speakers often use 'you' directly, adding the word 'you' (あなたは) in Japanese can actually make a compliment feel strangely heavy or even confrontational.
- Japanese has a distinct word 美しい (utsukushii) for a deep, artistic beauty that is often considered more profound and permanent than the 'pretty' quality of 綺麗 (kirei).
Examples in context
- あなたはとても綺麗ですね。Anata wa totemo kirei desu ne.You are so beautiful.
Example conversation
Hiroto and Yui are walking in a park during the evening.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣さんはとても綺麗ですね。Yui-san wa totemo kirei desu ne.Yui, you are so beautiful.
- 結衣 Yui本当ですか？嬉しいです。Hontō desu ka? Ureshii desu.Really? I'm happy to hear that.
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、本当に綺麗です。Hai, hontō ni kirei desu.Yes, you really are beautiful.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます、大翔さん。Arigatō gozaimasu, Hiroto-san.Thank you, Hiroto.
